Caterham Super Seven - greatest driver car ever - no contest

[twobone]

OK, just got back from my first major drive (250 miles) in the Caterham Super Seven and I'd like to lay out a justification for why the Super Seven is the greatest driver car ever:

 

#1 - Performance (as defined by the impact on the human brain). Driving a 7 is total automotive sensory integration.

The engine sucks in one ear and blows out the other. A crossflow at full throttle is auditory bliss!

The wind in your face and chest connects you with the car as you and car together push thru the air as one.

The view down the hood is truly evocative. The reflection of yourself and the car in the headlamps and the long hood reaching out to the horizon is classic sports car at its best.

The closeness of the mechanics. The differential buzzing behind your butt, the hot engine warming your thigh and the steering wheel nudging you on.

As a car, nothing else connects you to the driving experience.

 

#2 - Handling. I'm only starting to tip toe into this one, but I know it will exceed my expectations. The combination of incredible lightness and excellent suspension is certainly confidence inspiring. I felt comfortable today ripping down country roads at 80mph. Only a solid chassis would give me that confidence

 

#3 - Social experience. I come from the Porsche camp and I always felt like I had something to apologize for. Today, I had 6 or 8 total strangers come and approach me, all from different walks of life. I had at least 15 folks in cars try to take a photo of me with their iPhone. The 7 transcends social barriers. It just looks like so much fun that people want to stop and ask about the car.

 

#4 - Value. Nothing will deliver the smiles per mile at even 1/3rd the price. I will happily debate with anyone who can tell me any car that can deliver the experience I just had today.

 

Against all measures, I feel totally vindicated in my decision to get a 7. It is the greatest driver car ever. This is just day one....what will I think after I've made some tasty modifications?

[Oyagi]

Great post and pics!

 

Love your car...you should keep the classic clamshells!

[MightyMike]

Beautiful car and photos.

 

Agree with comments three and four in their entirety. Have fun!

 

Mike

[Croc]

I think I recognize the symptoms of an automotive orgasm! lucky its not my keyboard and screen....

 

I think owners of all Sevens - Westfields, Birkins, Stalkers, Ultralites, etc, would all agree with your sentiments, not just the Caterham drivers. Congratulations on your new Seven and welcome to the very exclusive Seven owners club!

[Kitcat]

You definitely nailed the experience!

 

The Crossflow has its shortcomings (modest power, lousy gas mileage) but it takes a back seat to no engine when it comes to the glorious sound it produces: it just makes you want to run up and down the RPM range all day long. And it crackles and pops and snarls and you start to feel you are in a no-holds bar race car.

[pi7ot]

That's yet another one sorted :driving:

 

m

[jimrankin]

Drove my S2K to work yesterday, first time in a while I've wanted to get up just to go to WORK.

[twobone]

Funny story....took my Mom for a drive. She is a very nervous passenger (76 years old). Anyways, she sees my helmet in the passenger well. I tell her that that is for the highway, but that we are just going around the block. I go in for a pee and when I come back out she is holding a white styrofoam bike helmet.

 

I told her; "thats not going to help if we crash, Mom!"

 

Anyways, we had a very slow, very short drive and she loves it.

 

 

Old lady neighbor looked at the car and told me she used to own an Allard. This car brings out old memories for folks.

[JohnCh]

Drove my S2K to work yesterday, first time in a while I've wanted to get up just to go to WORK.

 

When I anticipate a rough day at work, I bring the Westfield provided there's no rain in the forecast. It helps keep me sane, and is probably directly responsible for the fact that I haven't yet become a heavy drinker and smoker

 

-John

[Al N.]

@twobone: You forget to mention that the owners/enthusiasts are some of the nicest/non-douchey people in the car world! ;-P

[twobone]

Al, any relation to Charles Navarro? He is a well known engine guy within the 911 camp

[Al N.]

@twobone: Not that I know of. I am of Filipino descent.

[lancylad]

Twobone, you echo all the sentiments that we all feel. These are feel good cars, there is no way you can go for a blat in one and not have that silly grin, and the feeling rubs off on anyone in close proximity to the car..had a Dino driver drooling over mine this last week.. :driving::driving:

[supersportsp]

#3 - Social experience. I come from the Porsche camp and I always felt like I had something to apologize for. Today, I had 6 or 8 total strangers come and approach me, all from different walks of life. I had at least 15 folks in cars try to take a photo of me with their iPhone. The 7 transcends social barriers. It just looks like so much fun that people want to stop and ask about the car.

 

I have been lucky to get to drive a fairly large quantity of high end sports cars with high end names that can attract a lot of attention. But, nothing I have driven has attracted this much POSITIVE attention. People love them, and little kids go wild for my car (probably due to its scale friendliness). There never seems to be the negative Ferrari envy glances or the another Porsche jackass eye rolls when out cruising around in the car. Just lots of smiles, waves and thumbs up gestures.

[BMW RACER]

I finally got the car of my dreams November last year. I love driving it through the canyons here in Southern California. It's everything I thought it would be and more!

What I wasn't prepared for is the amount of positive attention it gets.

It's so unique and open people have no problem rolling down their windows and talking to me about the car.

[sdca7]

I've had sevens for only three years now, and have spent most of my time in them on the track. I still have the same feeling, though - every time I come back into the pits I've got a huge silly grin on my face! I drove Z06's prior to the seven, and had similar experience to yours - great group of people that drove corvettes here, but irrational dislike for them by a few others. The seven is popular with everyone, and is a great conversation starter. I get requests for rides all the time.

 

My goals on the track went from wanting to be fast to just enjoying the drive, and you can't beat these cars!

 

Justin

[jimrankin]

Drove the S2K to work again today. Wide open freeway and across the Bunbarton Bridge at about 85+MPH at 5:15 AM gets me grinning! Even at that time of the morning I still get people catching up to get a better look after I go by. Have to be everywhere from the Delta to San Jose today so I'm going to put on way over a 100 miles of smile and be getting paid for it. LOL

[MightyMike]

All of my experiences have been very positive - except one...

 

My electric fan kicked on outside of a bicycle shop and drained the battery down to a point that it would not start upon returning to the car. I asked a guy who just got out of his Porsche and was heading into the bike shop if he would kindly push me out of my spot, so I could attempt a rolling start down the hill. My plan was pop the clutch and start my car. This guy looked at my Birkin, rolled his eyes, then made some under the breath, but loud enough to be heard comment about my car being a piece of sh!t. As he reluctantly walked over to assist, I told him thanks but no thanks.

[Spaz]

Great post!

[V-Robb]

Another vote of two thumbs up!! I just got Fred in March and in a week and a half I'll be heading out on a 2100 mile, 4 day run to Wisconsin. On the Harley I get lots of looks and questions when traveling cross country - I expect it to be even more so in the Se7en.